- [discussing Sheriff Jackson]
- Howell Hendricks: You know as well as I do with the railroad finished, people pouring into town, more mines opening up - the job is too big for a tired old man... and that's what he is. And that's all he is.
- Deputy Jim Brand: Not to me, Mr. Hendricks. If it wasn't for him takin' a chance on me, I'd still be an out-of-work cowhand going no place.
- Howell Hendricks: Jim, loyalty is fine and I admire you for it, but let's be practical.
- Deputy Jim Brand: Like how?
- Howell Hendricks: [pointing to a favorable newspaper headline] This should be enough to get you elected. If you wait any longer, you'll have more competition. Right now, you're way ahead of the rush.
- Deputy Jim Brand: Tell me - what difference does it make to you who's sheriff and who's not?
- Howell Hendricks: I want to see Washoe County get ahead - Nevada get ahead.
- Deputy Jim Brand: Now is that the railroad talking or you talking?
- Howell Hendricks: Both.
- Deputy Jim Brand: Now which talks first - the kite or the tail?
- Sheriff Sam Jackson: All right, I'll tell you - and you can tell Hendricks! Whenever I get to old and useless to handle the job the taxpayers are paying me for, they can vote me out - and until they do, there's going to be at least one man in Washoe County the railroad don't own and Hendricks can't buy.
- Deputy Jim Brand: Take a look at me, Sam. Do you see any "For Sale" sign on me?
- [carrying out a court order, Deputy Sheriff Brand has chained a locomotive to a railroad track, preventing a pair of trains from moving]
- Deputy Jim Brand: You know I always wondered what it would feel to hold up a train - two trains! Now I know.
- Deputy Jim Brand: Sam, did I do wrong?
- Sheriff Sam Jackson: Well, of course you did! Only if I was your age and didn't know any better, I'd have probably done the same thing myself if I had thought of it.
- [last lines]
- Deputy Jim Brand: Well, let's go.
- Nora Jackson: Where?
- Deputy Jim Brand: But, Nora, you just saw me get arrested. When a man pulls off the biggest train holdup that ever was - two trains - and a hundred thousand dollars... he has to take his punishment.
- Nora Jackson: [chuckling] You're a fool.
- Deputy Jim Brand: That's not what Mr. Hendricks would say.
- Nora Jackson: Sheriff, I'll take charge of the prisoner.
- [Nora and Jim walk off arm in arm]